Texas’s Fort WorthThe guy from North Texas who was charged with headbutting his father-in-law in a Fort Worth bar in 2022 has entered a guilty plea to murder.
What’s fresh:
John Birdwell struck a plea deal last week, according to court documents.
Initially, he was charged with aggravated assault, manslaughter, murder, and elder injury.
As part of the agreement, all charges will be dropped except the murder charge.
Birdwell is scheduled to be sentenced by a judge on Friday.
Headbutt kills Fort Worth veterinarian
The backstory
After Fort Worth police claimed that Birdwell killed 66-year-old Robert Bearden at Woody’s Tavern, he was taken into custody in 2022.
An arrest warrant document states that Birdwell had consented to meet Bearden at the bar in order to discuss his tumultuous marriage. His son-in-law was being persuaded to sign divorce papers by the older man.
According to footage taken inside the bar, Birdwell abruptly grabbed his father-in-law’s head and gave him three headbutts.
Even after they both fell to the ground and witnesses reported that it was obvious the elder man was incapacitated, he attempted to carry on the attack. The document claims that other bargoers had to drag him away.
After being brought to the hospital, Bearden passed away from his wounds.
Headbutt kills Fort Worth man, son-in-law charged
Last week, a respected Tarrant County veterinarian passed away. According to the police, his son-in-law killed him by headbutting him in a club in Fort Worth.
The victim recalled:
According to the records, Bearden worked as a veterinarian at Benbrook’s VCA Mercedes Place Animal Hospital.
The proprietor of Woody’s Tavern described him as one of the kindest and most giving individuals he had ever met.
The Source: Court documents and previous news reports from Tarrant County provide the information used in this story.
